Blanchard leads Bears at Five Counties

FOUNTAIN VALLEY —— Jordan Blanchard showed he belongs among the
elite wrestlers at Temecula Valley. The Golden Bears senior turned
in the team's best performance Saturday, placing second in the
heavyweight division at the Five Counties Invitational.

Blanchard won his first five matches before falling to Apple
Valley Granite Hills' Gabe Moore, 3-2, in the title match. It was
Temecula's best individual performance at Five Counties since Jeff
Bristol won at 140 pounds in 2002.

"All my matches up until the final match were great," Blanchard
said. "I underestimated him, and he got the best of me.

"Finishing second is good. I'm now ranked second in the
state."

Blanchard, seeded sixth among heavyweights, beat two of the top
three seeds en route to the championship.

In the championship match, Moore scored an early first-period
takedown that turned out to be a critical score. Blanchard tried to
shoot late in the third period, to no avail.

"All the ranked guys in the state were here, and he's in the
finals. I think that speaks for itself," Temecula co-coach Arnold
Alpert said. "That's what you want to accomplish. But, just like
us, everybody else will make adjustments along the way, so
hopefully we can do it a little better up at state."

Blanchard was one of four Valley wrestlers to place in the top
eight during the two-day tournament.